Time is relative, and the flipping of the calender now is completely arbitrary. The Western world follows the Roman tradition of the Julian calender with January 1 as the New Year, but in other cultures, the New Year begins in spring or fall. The New Year used to begin in March in Venice, which would actually make more sense for gardeners. Regardless, humans have a need to recognize milestones, to find significance in dates, and so I cast my eyes onto the blank pages of the book of 2011 and start to dream winter gardening dreams and draw the first lines of the sketches.
I don't believe in making resolutions, but I do have ideas of things I'd like to do. I love the little fairy garden box that my friend Leslie of Growing a Garden in Davis has made for her granddaughter (which she has posted*). She was inspired by one she saw in Buffalo. I've decided I should make one for the girl, who loves arranging little things. This would be a good mother/daughter project for us.
I'm going to start more seeds in milk jugs as outdoor winter sowing. Last year was nearly a complete bust for growing annuals from seed. For some unknown reason, I'm good at transplanting tiny seedlings, so I think I'll have more luck with that.
Now that I've got my photography tools, I intend to delve deeper into the creative well to craft images that exist only in my mind.
It's been too long since I put away my old darkroom equipment, and the creative muscles have gotten a little flabby. With the DSLR camera and Photoshop, I can start working them again. I don't know if this will lead me away from writing and into the visual realm. The book is yet unwritten, the plot is unformed. The fun will be seeing how it all comes out.
Have you started armchair gardening? What new things do you plan to try this year?
*edited 1/4/11